Douglas, George C.M. – The Book of Judges in Hand-Books for Bible Classes, ed. Dods & Whyte 1881

Douglas (1826-1904) was a Hebraist in the Free Church of Scotland, having studied under Thomas Chalmers and came to be a Principle of the Free Church College. “He was a scholarly conservative, skeptical of higher critical views.” – DoSCH&T

Fausset (1821–1910) was an Irish, evangelical, Anglican and Bible scholar. He is remembered for his part in the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary on the Whole Bible. This commentary on Judges has been reprinted in the Geneva Commentary Series by Banner of Truth.

‘Remains one of the finest comprehensive and scholarly treatments for the expositor.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Kitto, John – ‘The Judges’ in Daily Bible Illustrations: being Original Readings for a Year, on subjects relating to Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities and Theology, vol. 2 (Ex.-Jud.)

*** – ‘Exceedingly meritorious. Refer to it frequently.’ ‘They are not exactly a commentary, but what marvelous expositions you have there! You have reading more interesting than any novel that was ever written, and as instructive as the heaviest theology. The matter is quite attractive and fascinating, and yet so weighty, that the man who shall study those eight volumes thoroughly, will not fail to read his Bible intelligently and with growing interest.’ – Spurgeon

*** – ‘Mr. Wiseman in this work tells of ‘Gideon and Barak, of Samson and of Jephthah’, and he does it in a powerful style. He was one of the best preachers in the Wesleyan body. A man of fullness and judiciousness; in fact, a wise man.’ – Spurgeon

** – ‘Let our Biblical students not only master the facts and logic, but catch the spirit of these commentaries, and we can have no fear for the issue of that conflict with Rationalism and Popery united, by which Protestantism in this country seems to be threatened.’ – Wesleyan Mehodist Magazine, quoted by Surgeon

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Commentaries on Judges

Medium Level

Puritan

Vermigli, Peter Martyr – A Most Fruitful and Learned Commentary on JudgesToC 1560

* – ‘This would seem to be a profound work. [Richard] Rogers says of Peter Martyr: ‘Few private men can understand his works, and few ministers who understand them can obtain them; nor if they can will they find in them much that will benefit their simple hearers.’ This has not been our experience with Peter Martyr’s works; on the contrary, we have read them with interest.’

‘Spiritual reflections after the high Calvinistic school. Some preachers cannot see Christ where He is, but Allen finds Him where He is not. There is in these reflections much godly savor, but very little exposition.’ – Spurgeon

This Allen was not the one that translated Calvin’s Institutes. James Darling said that Allen was an Antinomian (one who believes that Christians are not bound by moral injunctions). Antinomians, not believing that moral injunctions should be derived from God’s Word, often replaced this large aspect of Scripture’s teaching with finding Christ everywhere in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.

* “Dr. Dods considers that to find Samson and other judges types of our Lord Jesus is mere fancy, and he interprets upon ‘a rational principle’ which renders his book dry and unspiritual; at the same time his sketches are not without value.” – Spurgeon

‘A systematic consideration of the central themes of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, incorporating into its material the latest archaeological findings in the Near East… Deals with the difficult problems… A commendable volume.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Israel from Conquest to Exile: a Commentary on Joshua to 2 Kings Buy 1994

‘Abounds in textual, philological, historical, geographical, and archaeological material which translators and those who preach from a careful exegesis of the text will find helpful.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Hengstenberg, E.W. – Time of the Judges

** “This great author contends ably for the Pentateuch, but the perusal of his book reminds us of the king who ‘Fought all his battles o’er again, And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.'” – Spurgeon

** “Hugh Miller said: ‘There is a poetic richness in the style, which at one time reminds us of Chalmers, and at another of Jeremy Taylor, but which in reality is Mr. Bruce’s own, that does not seem poor or bald beside even the blank verse of the great master of English song.’ We think this eulogy is greatly overdone.” – Spurgeon

** “This queer, quaint, odd volume of rhyme is far from despicable. Kitto frequently quotes Quarles upon Samson, and says of him that he was a poet of no mean order. We are glad to have his testimony to confirm our own opinion. Refined tastes will be offended, but those who wish for quaint thought will be gratified. The book is very rare.” – Spurgeon